This is an AP news story. It shows Pakistani labor preparing for their dinner in their room in a Dubai labor camp. Photo is dated Feb 2008.
According to the news story:
Dubai’s astonishing building boom, which has made it one of the world’s fastest-growing cities, has been fueled by the labor of about 700,000 immigrants — almost all from poor, rural villages in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka
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Sad but on the positive side, I would take this job in a second than having to collect trash in Pakistan or drive rickshaw in Pakistan – more money = more opportunities for future generations.
I salute our Arab brothers for giving us chances. They truly are generous.
Not all Pakistanis are living in such conditions in Middle East. Those with higher education and better jobs have better living conditions. Try asking how Pathani construction workers in Karachi survive.
This is a sign of failed policies that your unskilled labor has to travel thousands of miles to make just enough money to keep their families afloat.
As long as Pakistan is ruled by the waderas, pirs, and makhdooms, Arab states will get plenty of cheap labor, sex slave nannies and camel jockey children from us.
And God forbid we ever bring the discrimination and inhumane behavior reserved for immigrants in the Arab states to light. After all they are our “Muslim brothers” and part of one “Caliphate”.
Of course, conditions of immigrant labor is poor and miserable in Dubai and recent Human rights groups attention and media coverage is a testament to what is hidden from people’s eyes “the labor camps”.
Aside from the labor camps, I found Dubai way too expensive. It is normal for two families to share one apartment and single men to share one room. The rents are high and traffic congestion would appalling. Food is not expensive and Malls are really awesome especially one near Jubail, Ibn Battuta Mall.
Going back to labor conditions, humaray apnay bhai band yani “middle men/contractors” jinko urdu zaban mein “dallal/taikaydaar’ khatay hain, en mazdooroon ki khob durgat banatay hain aur kamatay hain.
working in 120 degrees in the summer, facing discrimination by locals, not even keeping any of the money but sending it home–and they still think they are lucky to get there at all. The human spirit still has its admirable moments.
Agee to Eidee Man
Had a chance to go to Med-East and felt like western society is far more tolerant then mid-east. Arabs only want cheap labour and every Pakistani lower the their animals (not all of them are like that , but a general feeling one gets)
Salute to these men for earning their right to survival in a difficult situation.